Operation Pop Top Results

On Thursday, September 5, 2012, Polk County Sheriff’s School Resource deputies, along with the assistance of a PCSO Explorer (Explorers are high school student volunteers), conducted “Operation Pop Top” in an effort to combat the illegal sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors. The operation was conducted in the Fort Meade area.

Eight stores were checked, and seven of them were found in compliance with Florida State Statutes.

The clerk at the Fort Meade Market/Val-U-King store, located at 201 South Charleston Avenue, was arrested for Sale of Alcohol to a Minor. The clerk is 16 years old.

The clerks at the following stores refused to sell alcohol to the minor:

Mak’s Discount Beverage 822 North Charleston Avenue, Fort Meade

Pit Stop Liquor/Lounge 800 North Charleston Avenue, Fort Meade

Circle K 116 North Charleston Avenue, Fort Meade

Sunoco 3 East Broadway Avenue, Fort Meade

Qwikway 724 E. Broadway Avenue, Fort Meade

Dollar General Store #1366 109 South Charleston Avenue, Fort Meade

Presco Food Store 825 South Charleston Avenue, Fort Meade

"I'd like to commend the clerks at the above-listed stores for joining us in our efforts to combat the sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors. It doesn't take but a second to ask for ID, and then verify that the buyer is of legal age to purchase these items. Those we have arrested in the past for selling to minors, I'm sure regret the fact that they didn't take the time to double-check. We will continue to monitor all of the stores in Polk County until we have 100% compliance." - Sheriff Grady Judd